Building Confidence and Esteem With Your Child
We all dream of our children being confident with high
self-esteem. It's vital we remember that everything we say to a
child can have a positive or negative consequence on their minds.
Sometimes all it takes is one knock back, one put down or one
embarrassment to affect their behaviour well into their adult
life if not for the rest of their days.
Mindful parenting is the answer. That's being consciously aware
of how you are communicating to your child in verbal and
non-verbal ways. Consider yourself as a guide in your child's
life. Holding their hand along the way, at times walking just in
front to lead them, sometimes walking by their side discovering
together and at other times walking a step or two behind,
supporting and encouraging them, being there to love them if
they falter from their path. And it is THEIR path.
To help you achieve this I've given you some ideas below. Pick
one or two to begin with and work with them until you feel
comfortable. Then pick the next ones on the list you want to try.
Your rewards will be immense as parenting becomes relaxed and
the family bonds grow stronger.
10 tips for building confidence and self-esteem:
- Give responsibility appropriate to ability. Consider yourself
as the guide that enables or disables a child's growth.
- Never tell a child they are wrong. Build co-operation. Remind
them what you admire about them and ask them to try things a
different way next time.
- Give genuine praise for positive progression in schoolwork and
things they do at home. Any step forward is progression. Praise
it!
- Let children hear you telling others about their strengths and
progression - they'll believe it more!
- Involve them in parent/teacher discussions. Make it positive
and solution focused.
- Sit or crouch down when talking to them. Be on their eye level.
- Ask for their opinions and validate them.
- Together write a list of all their qualities. Encourage your
child to come up with them and read the list daily.
- Find something good in them everyday. Tell them.
- Have teachers tell them what they are good at. When they could
do better show them when they have previously done it well and
refer them to it.
- Involve them in family discussions and decisions. Listen to
their ideas. Try to work with their ideas and tell them well
done for their contribution.
Happy families
Jo
Jo Ball Unstoppable Life